Overview
- As of August 2025, 1.99 million people aged 50 to 64 were out of work and claiming benefits, a 43% rise since February 2020.
- Long-term sickness exits among older workers have grown 21% since 2015, with 93% of 2.7 million fit notes in late 2024-25 advising full absence.
- GPs report lacking the time and training needed to assess reasonable adjustments that might keep patients in employment.
- The Centre for Social Justice describes the surge in older benefit claims as an “economic disaster and a missed opportunity.”
- The think tank urges creation of a National Work and Health Service to take over fit-note assessments, coordinate adjusted work placements, reduce benefit dependency.